THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001500010040-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2005
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: December 21, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
NSA-review completed
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Top Secret
21 December 1966
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Information as of 1600
21 December 1966
The military situation in South Vietnam on 20
and 21 December was highlighted by increased Com-
munist aggressiveness against Allied forces operat-
ing in the northern coastal provinces of I Corps
and in the central highlands of II Corps.
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I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
An estimated Communist battalion on 20 December un-
successfully attacked battalion-size US Marine ele-
ments conducting Operation CHINOOK near Hue, in
Thua Thien Province (Paras. 1-2). North Vietnamese
Army elements on 20 December launched a heavy mor-
tar attack against an ARVN outpost near the DMZ
(Para. 3). Enemy units operating in Pleiku Prov-
ince ambushed a US/ARVN resupply convoy en route
from Cheo Reo to Pleiku city and reportedly fired
mortar rounds at the US/Vietnamese Special Forces
camp at Plei Me (Paras. 4-5).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The Constituent Assembly voted on the constitutional
principles of local government on 20 December, and
began discussing the legislative branch of the na- 25X1
tional government on 21 December (Paras. 1-3).
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IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
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V. Communist Political Developments:
Peking has condemned the US letter to an
garding a Vietnam cease-fire (Paras. 4-5).
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1. Increased Communist aggressiveness against
US and ARVN forces operating in the northern coastal
provinces of I Corps and in the central highlands of
II Corps highlighted military activity in South Viet-
nam on 20 and 21 December.
2. An estimated Communist battalion attacked
battalion-strength US Marine task force elements
on 20 December during the opening phase of search-
and-destroy Operation CHINOOK in Thua Thien Province,
approximately 12 miles northwest of Hue. The enemy,
attacking in darkness and under cover of thick fog,
first shelled US defensive positions with 60 rounds
of mortar fire and, then, probed the marines' de-
fensive perimeter with automatic weapons and small
arms fire for more than three hours before disen-
gaging. Preliminary casualty reports are 54 enemy
killed and four captured compared with eight US
wounded.
3. An ARVN outpost located some 16 miles north-
west of Quang Tri city in South Vietnam's northern-
most province of Quang Tri was shelled by an es-
timated 30 rounds of 81-mm. mortar fire from North
Vietnamese Army positions within the southern por-
tion of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Casualties
among the garrison's defenders included three killed
and 15 wounded. US artillery supported the ARVN
position, but enemy losses are unknown.
4. In the central highlands of Pleiku Province,
a Viet Cong/NVA force of undetermined size on 20 De-
cember ambushed a 30-truck US/ARVN resupply convoy en
route from Cheo Reo to Pleiku city. Fifteen govern-
ment troops were killed (1 US) and six wounded in
a 15-minute assault. Communist losses are unknown.
A battalion-size ARVN reaction force failed to re-
establish contact with the attackers.
5.
Additionally, in Pleiku Province, uncon-
firmed
press reports indicate that the US/Vietnamese
Special
Forces camp at Plei Me, 27 miles south of
Pleiku
city, received an estimated 15-20 enemy mortar
rounds
early on 21 December, No casualties or damage
were reported, however.
21 December 1966
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1. On 20 December the Constituent Assembly ap-
proved as a basic constitutional principle the di-
rect election of mayors and province chiefs. This
principle contrasts sharply with the present appointive
system which has primarily named military officers to
these posts. Although this principle was passed by
a surprisingly wide margin in view of the controversy
it had aroused during the debate on 19 December, there
probably will be several exceptions included in the
detailed constitutional provisions which have yet to
be drafted. Many of the delegates who voted in favor
of the principle apparently recognize that it can not
be implemented immediately on a country-wide basis,
and initially, at least,province chiefs will probably
be elected only in the relatively secure provinces.
In addition, the assembly recommended that the cen-
tral government have the power to remove such elected
officials if they violate the constitution or laws,
or "seriously oppose" national policy.
2. Other principles of local government ap-
proved by the assembly on 20 December included the
election of village chiefs, and of councils with
"wide powers" at the village, city, and province
levels. In the interest of ensuring continuity at
all: local levels, the assembly alto recommended that
the government appoint civil servants and military
officers to assist elected offici&ls as deputies for
administration and security.
3. On 21 December, the assembly turned its at-
tention to the legislative branch of the national gov-
ernment, and, according to press reports, approved
the principle of a bicameral legislature. Details
on the method of choosing the two legislative chambers
and the division of legislative powers between them
reportedly will be worked out later.
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IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to re-
port.
21 December 1966
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Peking Condemns Goldberg Letter to U Thant
4. Peking has condemned Ambassador Goldberg's
letter of 19 December to U Thant asking for help in
arranging a cease-fire in Vietnam as a new "peace
talks swindle." A NCNA broadcast of 20 December
charged that the Goldberg letter was an attempt to
"force peace talks through bombing" and a replay
of the "stinking" 14-point negotiations plan that
the US had proposed a year ago.
5. Peking's opposition to a negotiated settle-
ment in Vietnam is as rigid today as it was a year
ago. On 20 December, the People's Daily editorial
repeated Peking's familiar position that it is
necessary for the Vietnamese to keep fighting un-
til. all US forces are driven out of Vietnam.
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